Capcom midterm earnings mixed, Lost Planet Colonies resurfaces

By Tor Thorsen, GameSpotPosted Nov 8, 2007 8:54 pm PT

Rise in six-month revenue doesn't prevent losses; German ratings board lists possible spin-off or sequel for 360.

Capcom today reported earnings for the six months ending on September 30, 2007, and the numbers painted a mixed picture. On one hand, revenues for the period increased 6.6 percent year-over-year to total ¥31.1 billion ($276.3 million), thanks to stronger than expected sales of Monster Hunter 2 and Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition.

On the other hand, the company's ¥1.6 billion ($14.2 million) in net income was a 16.3 percent decrease from the same period in 2006. One of the biggest culprits was a dramatic fall in Capcom's revenue from arcades, which plummeted 68.9 percent from ¥4.3 billion ($38.2 million) to ¥1.4 billion ($12.4 million) during the six month period.

"Consumer game software is one of our core business segments, and the favorable performance of this segment played a leading role in overall sales growth," the company said in a statement. For the full year ending March 31, 2008, it expects ¥78 billion ($693.1 million) in net revenue and ¥6.2 billion ($55 million) in net income, up from ¥74.5 billion ($661.8 million) and 5.9 billion ($52.4 million) the prior fiscal year.

The decline in profit was in part due to the fact that one of Capcom's biggest hits of calendar 2007, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition for the Xbox 360, launched during its last fiscal year on January 12, 2007. The PC version went on sale June 26, during its current fiscal year but only sold 12,620 units as of August 31 in the US, according to the NPD Group. (By comparison, the 360 version sold 652,951 copies.)

Despite the poor performance of the PC Lost Planet, Capcom plans on launching a PlayStation 3 version of the game in the first three months of 2008. This week also saw further evidence of a sequel--or spin-off--to the sci-fi shooter to surface in Europe. The Underhaltungselbskontrolle (USK)--Germany's answer to the Entertainment Software Ratings Board--now has a listing for an Xbox 360 third-person shooter called "Lost Planet Colonies." The game is rated as being suitable for gamers 16 years of age or older.

If that name sounds familiar, it's because Capcom trademarked the title "Lost Planet Colonies" earlier this year with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. On September 18, the trademark was granted for "video game software," but no details about platform or genre were given. Contradicting rumors peg the game as either a straight sequel to Lost Planet or a spin-off centering on tactical combat. Capcom has not commented on the rumors, but company representatives have publicly said a sequel is likely.

88 Comments

  • Fluffman

    Posted Mar 19, 2008 6:12 pm PT

    awsome i hope they get some new maps and weapons that is...if the game comes out

  • jtek_maoriboy

    Posted Feb 1, 2008 2:47 pm PT

    Well, what ever happens I hope they stay true to the online experience because thats awesome.

    But I do have to admit, the campaign itself was for the most part, mediocre but had alot of potential. Espescially if they stay intune and build on its current storyline, just make it better, heaps better!

  • dookson

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 3:37 pm PT

    yeh same with me basantinflic. i could be never be bothered waiting to get into a game but hopefuly this game is better

  • basantainlfc

    Posted Jan 12, 2008 2:28 pm PT

    Great, if they do make a sequal I hope they make a better multi-player interface beacause currently it takes me like 10 mins to get into an online game in LP

  • Franzkill

    Posted Jan 11, 2008 2:56 am PT

    I'll most likely get the 360 version along with a 360 next Friday.

  • deviltronix

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 5:06 am PT

    Karaam, you are an idiot. Capcom betrayed you?? Wow you are thick.

  • awheaten

    Posted Dec 11, 2007 12:46 am PT

    I second that thought Tokyo90. That is the most stupidest comment ever. The PS3 is the better console. Ok, they threw alot into the hardware. Maybe too much. (Which makes me wonder why people call the 40gb version stripped down. Thats another subject). Sony is on the rise. They may never beat Microsoft or Nintendo this generation. But, I believe Sony will learn from their mistakes and do better in the future. I'm not getting LP, unless I can get a used version from Gamestop. However, I do believe that Capcom needs to come out with some exclusive for the PS3. Sony is selling like hot cakes. Its about time 3rd parties come back to Sony. I say make LP 2 an exclusive for PS3. There is more storage, better graphic capabilities, and better controller, yeah I said it.

    Yours truely, A legit fanboy!

  • Tokyo90

    Posted Nov 12, 2007 8:34 pm PT

    SalarianChemist:
    Lost Planet 2 or "Lost Planet Colonies" will likely be released exclusively for the Xbox 360.

    The PS3 version of the first Lost Planet won't even be available until 2008...and it likely will sell very poorly, considering the following facts:

    (1) The Xbox 360 version is a best-seller and can be purchased right now for only $29.99

    (2) The Xbox 360 downloads with all of the extra content are now available for free!

    (3) The Xbox 360 version has better graphics.

    Obviously, very few people are going to want to pay more money ($60) for a PS3 version of an Xbox 360 game, especially when you consider that the Xbox 360 version has better graphics and free downloads.

    If the PS3 version suffers the same kind of poor sales as the PC version, as it likely will, since most people interested in Lost Planet bought it within the first six months for Xbox 360, then there will likely never be PS3 version of Lost Planet 2 ever created....and the only reason there might be a PC version of Lost Planet 2 is because it is so inexpensive to port Xbox 360 games to PC.

    spoken like a true stupid xbox360 fanboy

  • ninjasam

    Posted Nov 11, 2007 10:13 pm PT

    yeah capcom, bring resident evil 5 to the wii! Also dull down the graphics so that it looks like crap! Thats what happened with other games. maybe you can just release it for the next generation of Nintendo consoles, maybe it can support it.

  • X-RS

    Posted Nov 11, 2007 7:07 pm PT

    i dont want to get into graphic wars of ps3/360, still i think lighting in lost planet is a #1 priority (with all that snow/smoke) so i could see where salarian chemist is coming from - cept with a blu ray disc you could put all the extra features on easy, and they're free ob xbl now...

    neways id like to see a survival mode with tha big worms n stuff.

  • Heathcliff

    Posted Nov 11, 2007 11:39 am PT

    "Stronger than expected" sales of RE4 wii edition.... Hey Capcom, the message is loud and clear. Bring RE5 to Wii!

  • Karaam

    Posted Nov 11, 2007 8:40 am PT

    it's too late, considering the amount of AAA games coming out in Q1 2008, i'm not going to buy it and I don't thing anybody else would want it over Killzone 2. I'm sorry capcom but you betrayed us, now your getting it in the rear opening.

  • PS360Fanboy

    Posted Nov 11, 2007 7:03 am PT

    Nice

  • lionelchu

    Posted Nov 11, 2007 3:23 am PT

    i'm sorry to say this, but putting this game on the ps3 is a bad move. knowing all the other first person shooters that are out now, lost planet just doesn't do n e thing for me. i dont think it will be a good investment by the time it comes out for ps3 unless they add a lot more features or wutever.

  • Mcgnnis1

    Posted Nov 10, 2007 7:20 pm PT

    Holy Cricket!!! lost Planet on PS3..Lucky Me..

  • dantesergei

    Posted Nov 10, 2007 6:55 pm PT

    since i cannot afford two consoles i wish dead rising went to the ps3 too i dont even have money for the ps3

  • Mafoofoo

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 10:24 pm PT

    Heh the PS3 library is growing!

  • NeoNavarro

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 8:01 pm PT

    I'd play the sequel I thought the first one was good. Glad to hear that the PS3 owners will be getting a copy too

  • uklegendkiller

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 6:30 pm PT

    Great news, i realy enjoyed the first game, and i can't wait for the sequel/Spin-off to come out. Hopefully there will be a mutiplayer co-op mode online and off line it's the only thing the first was missing that let it down.

  • Mad_Rhetoric

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 3:05 pm PT

    yes a sequel!

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